uite so," said I drily. "But, if you really intended to have relieved
me, why have waited until the rest were asleep?"

"Well, ye see, sir, it was this way," answered the man. "When we went
below lawst night, after knockin' off pumping all hands of us was on the
growl, 'cause of the heavy work we'd had to do; and Sam up and said that
the best thing we could do 'd be to tike to the boats, as soon as the
gale broke, and let the blessed old hooker go to the bottom, rather than
have to keep all on pumpin' of her everlastin'ly until we fetched a
port. And the rest of 'em agreed with him. Then Dirk ups and asts what
was to be done with you and the lidy; and, nobody else seemin' to have a
hawnser ready, I says that I supposes you'll both have to come with us.
But Dirk, he says No; it won't never do for you to land along of us; you
knows enough to hang some of us, and he for one don't mean to take no
risks; and t'others all agreed with him; and at last 'twas settled that
if the leak don't take up when the gale breaks, we're to take to the
boats, leavin' you and the lidy aboard to go down with the brig. I
thought I'd wait and hear if anybody had anything else to say about it
afore comin' aft to relieve you; and it was while I was w'itin' that I
dropped asleep."

"Thank you, Harry, for affording me this very important item of
information," said I. "You are a good sort of fellow, and you may
depend upon it that I will not forget the service you have done me. And
so that scoundrel Dirk would leave the lady and me to drown, would he,
after all that I have done for him? Very well! Now, Harry, neither
Miss Onslow nor I will be left aboard here to drown, you may take your
oath of that. It is clear to me, now, that it must be war to the death
between the forecastle and the cabin, and I shall take my measures
accordingly. The question is: Which side--cabin or forecastle--do you
intend to be on? If you choose to join me, I will do what I can for
you; and if you elect to throw in your lot with those murderers for'ard,
I will still bear you in mind, so far as I can, consistently with the
lady's and my own safety."

"Thank'ee, sir," answered the fellow. "If I might make so bold, sir,
what do you intend to do?"

"That," said I, "I can only tell you in the event of your coming over on
my side."

"Very well, sir," returned he, "I'll think it over while you're tikin' a
rest, and let you know when you come on deck agine."

And